Method for locating pipe joints



Aug. 24, 1965 R. w. COOK 3,201,975

METHOD FOR LOCATING PIPE JOINTS Filed April 25, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

Roam? W 600K X Am/M MMfMM 3,261,975 .METHGD FQR LCCATING PIPE JUINTS 1 Robert W. Cook, Decatur, ind, assignor to C. W. Fuelling, Inc, Fort Wayne, Ind. Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Seer. No. 24,375 3 Claims. (Cl. 73--4tl.5)

The present invention relates to a pipe-joint locating device, and more particularly to a new and novel structure which utilizes air means for locating the joints in an underground pipe or like conduit.

As is known, with the advent of increased gas usage, for example, and the transmission of gas at increased pressures, the underground network of pipes or mains for distributing such gas has been overtaxed inasmuch as the present operating conditions were not considered in the original design thereof. As a result, and, in addition, because of age, the existing gas transmission networks have presented a serious leakage problem which, oftentimes, has created a dangerous situation in various localities.

In order to overcome the aforesaid leakage problems without the formidable task of making innumerable evacuations at each of the joints in the gas transmission pipe, and/or even the replacement of entire sections of pipe because of leaks therein, an apparatus and a method have been developed for sealing the underground gas lines. Such a pipe sealing apparatus and the method are disclosed and claimed in the Cook et al. Patent No. 2,894,- 539, entitled, Pipe Sealing Apparatus and Method, which issued on July 14, 1959, and which patent is incorporated herein by reference insofar as the disclosure thereof is necessary. Such prior apparatus, however, representatively included magnetic means for detecting the location of joints, fissures or the like in underground pipe.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicant has developed a new and novel structure and method for eating a joint in an underground pipe which employs air as the operational basis thereof. Briefly, and as a matter of expediency, the instant invention will be disclosed herein in connection with the pipe sealing apparatus disclosed by the aforesaid Cook et al. patent. Basically, the applicants novel device comprises an annular member disposed around a portion of the body of the Cook et al. pipe sealing apparatus, which annular member is hollow and is connected to a source of pressurized air through a common solenoid valve. The air is expelled from the annular member through a series of peripherally disposed nozzles or jets thereon and, as the pipe sealing apparatus is moved through an underground conduit, the air pressure against the inner surface of the pipe or main provides a constant audible sound until a pipe joint is located, whereupon, an audible variation occurs. With the detection of the joint, sealing thereof can then be readily effected by the aforesaid apparatus.

The instant invention not only indicates the presence of a joint, but with the use of a single jet or a plurality of separately operable jets, the operator can also deter mine the presence of a tap in the underground pipe from the audible sound variation. Thus, the applicants novel method and apparatus afford multiple advantages not available in pipe-joint locating devices heretofore in use.

Accordingly, the principle object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel structure utilizing air to locate a joint or a tap in an underground conduit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel structure and method which are readily adaptable to use with pipe sealing apparatus for establishing the locations of necessary joint sealing operations.

A further and more general object of the present in Vention is to provide a new and novel pipe-joint or tap United States Patent 0 M 3,291,975 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 locating device which is simple to manufacture, and highly eifective in solving a serious safety problem prevalent today in connection with leaking utility mains.

Other objects and a better understanding of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a representative view showing typical use of apparatus on which the instant invention is positioned;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the instant invention disposed on a pipe sealing apparatus positioned within an underground conduit; and,

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section, taken at line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the instant invention, but, for clarity, omitting details of the apparatus on which it is disposed.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants novel invention is typically disposed on the pipe sealing apparatus in disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid Cook et al. Patent No. 2,894,539, the disclosure of which patent, as stated hereabove, is made a part hereof, where necessary. The Cook et al. pipe sealing apparatus it typically comprises the novel pipe-joint locating device 20 forming the instant invention, which not only locates the joint, but may also condition the same for further sealing operations; a sealing agent storage section 12 including, but not shown herein, mechanism for metering determinable quantities of sealing agent from the storage section and for proportioning the sealing agent so used; applicators 14 for applying and spreading sealing agent over the defective joint; and, a power system 15, also not particularly shown, for operating the applicators 14 and associated mechanism.

The applicants novel pipe-joint locating device 20 is conventionally positioned on the outer surface 17 of a portion of the sealing apparatus 10. The instant invention typically comprises an annular member 21 having a series of air jets 22 peripherally disposed thereon. The

. annular member 21 connects to a pipe or conduit 24 through a fitting 25. An electrically operated solenoid valve 26 is disposed at the opposite end of the conduit 24 and is suitably bracketed to a portion of the sealing mechanism In. The solenoid valve 26 electrically connects to a power control board for the sealing apparatus 16), and the energization thereof selectively controls the passage of air into the annular member 21.

When it is desired to operate the apparatus, and as should be evident from FIG. 1, an excavation 31 is made to an underground main 3d, and the sealing apparatus 10 is disposed in the latter. Another excavation 32 is made to the main 36 through which a combined air and electrical cable 18 passes from the front of the sealing apparatus it). A winch or similar structure 34 may be employed for controlling the movement of the sealing apparatus it) along the main 39.

It will be obvious that excavations 31 and 32 should be large enough to permit the sealing apparatus 10 to be introduced into the main 3% It will also be obvious that a single excavation may be made from which the sealing apparatus may be pushed first in one direction through I pulled back and the main and then the opposite, direction by means of i jointed rods or pipes. For example, the sealing apparatus may be pushed into a main as far'as 500 feet and then a sealthereto; v

" As the sealing apparatus is rnoved along the 30, the electrical solenoid valve 2 6 is energized,lcausingf air to be introduced "into the conduit 2ft and into the annular member 21. Air is then expelled through. the jets 22 onto the inner surface'of the main 30. A 'con tinuousaudible sound is made as the seali ng apparatus Q P d t a P ne i r y n connection with a sealingmachine, it. is obvious that it and, subsequently followed by a series of sealing steps including, as noted hereaboye, the possible conditioning within thespirit of the invention; For example, although the present invention has beendiseussedhereabove in may, 'be an independentunit for specialized detecting 7 uses or, of course, scaled to any particular environmental 1 application. Moreover, the position of the annular memltlrtra'vels along that portion of the main having no joint, seam or otherfissure therein. :However, when any of the t indicates the presence of a joint 35 or 'thelilce.

latter is encountered, the soundv a'ries and, accordingly,

Thereafter, andas should be'apparentfromthe ,afor e said'Cooketal. patent, the airstream may be utilized to Y condition'theljoint 35 for subsequent sealing by'moving' the annular member -21back and forth thereover. As

the relative position of the annular member 21 forming a part of the locating device is known with reference to the applicators 14 which serve to'spreadla sealing agent over the defectivefjoint same operator then moves. the r )7 her21onthe'sealing apparatus 10 may be mo'ved from thatshown in the dr',awing,as desired; Thus, the above description should beconsidered illustrativeand not as limiting the, scope of the following fclairns,

'. "The invention claimed is: 1

. 1. The method of locating a joint in an underground pipe which comprises the steps of producing in the atmosphere Within said pipe a sound signal by expelling a pressurized fluid onto the innersurfacefof said pipe, said sound signal'beingaudible ata'remote point and directsealing apparatus 10; so that'the applicators 14 are" in j position for operation. 7

As'in the instance of the Cool; et al. patent,-tlie sealing 7 agent, a plastic material, is typically fed to 'the' ,appli v 1 cators 14, followed by the rotation of the applicators 14 thereon for spreading the' sealing agent over the defec-l tive'joint 35, Whenrthe preceding operation is completed,

the sealing apparatus 10 'is' moved along thev main -3tl pntil anotherjoint is reached. l p r l Although the preceding discussion is withrespect to ing saidfpressuriz ed fiuid-progressively from ,point to point along the insideofsaid pipe 'until a variation occurs in the said-sound signal. 7

* f 2. The metho'd of locating a tap in an'undergroun'd pipe which comprises the steps of producing'in the atmosthe location of a joint in an underground main 30, the 7 device is equally adapatable for use in determiningthe position'of a tap therein when modified'so thatfonly a single jet, or a selective numberof'je'ts, is caused "to operate; Towards the latter end, the invention disclosed herein may also be changed in that eachof the individual jets may be selectively controlled" by'a solenoid so that,

'vvithout moving any portion of-"the sealing apparatus, the selective passage of airffrom thejjets can audibly die-- phere Within said pipe a sound signal by selectively expelling a pressurized fiuidxonto-a portio'n of the inner surface of said :pipe, said soundsignal being audible at 'a'iremote point'and directing pressurizedjfluid progressively from point to'point along the inside of said pipe until a variation occurs'in-"the' said' sound' signal."

3. ;'The method of locating'a joint in an underground pipe which comprises the-steps of producing in the, atmosphere withinjsaid, pipe a sound signal by selectively ex- V pelling -apressurized fluid onto a portion of the inner -1 surface of said pip'e'," said sound signal being audible at 2 a fremote'pointi and progressively' directing ,said pressurizedfiuidjagainst other-portionsof the'inn'er surface of szaid pip'e until an audible, variation occurs in, the 'said tect the particular postion of, a tap arou nd theperiphery'; j

of the inner surface of the gas main upon baclc and forth" movement of the sealing apparatus" 10. Mo'reovfilthis approach can also be expandedjso that; all'the'tjets operate simultaneously, in annular relationship, 'as' discussed hereabove, in locating a' defective joint; r. v It should be apparent-from the preceding d' m ssion that the applicant has provideda new andnovel approach, to detecting the presence of a joint or tap in an undergroundtransmis'sion system, through an operation remote I from the sight and direct manual control of an operator;

By reason of audible signal variation, upon; energization of a control for air, the 'joint or tappis readily, detected s u s na Refe i encesiCited Examiner IsAAc LISANN, Primqry Eicaminer.

ROBERT L." EVANS, Ex ner." 

1. THE METHOD OF LOCATING A JOINT IN AN UNDERGROUND PIPE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF PRODUCING IN THE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN SAID PIPE A SOUND SIGNAL BY EXPELLING A PRESSURIZED FLUID ONTO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID PIPE, SAID SOUND SIGNAL BEING AUDIBLE AT A REMOTE POINT AND DIRECTING SAID PRESSURIZED FLUID PROGRESSIVELY FROM POINT TO POINT ALONG THE INSIDE OF SAID PIPE UNTIL A VARIATION OCCURS IN THE SAID SOUND SIGNAL. 